This is one of the best keyboards for programmers. I read an article saying that running a keyboard through the dishwasher would clean it, but I'm unsure about a keyboard like this which has a faux leather wrist guard. Any suggestions?

pop the keys off and wash in a large bowl of warm soapy water
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shuflerAug 11 '09 at 18:51

1

If it is really bad and you got a few bucks, I would personaly just order a new one and keep the other as a backup. haha
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TroggyNov 30 '09 at 17:44

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Dishwasher powder contains a lot of salt, which would make the electronics short circuit even after it has dried out. Also, it would take months for the water to dry out between in the membrane in a keyboard like that. Putting a dishwasher in a dishwasher is a terrible idea.
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paradroidMay 17 '11 at 6:51

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@Troggy not all of is have money to spare. Some of is are just high schoolers without a job.
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Cole JohnsonOct 21 '13 at 0:56

Do not forget to remove the electronics first, otherwise they may corrode. If you really like your keyboard, don't take that chance with it.
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BroamNov 30 '09 at 16:47

@Broam to be fair, it's not much of a chance to take... you can just buy another one for 25-55 bucks depending on sales.
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TM.Nov 30 '09 at 17:39

I ordered another for $20 from Dell just in case this didn't work. I didn't even take the electronics out this time. If I get three years out of a keyboard, I'm happy with it. This washing bought me at least a year.
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Brian VallelungaDec 7 '09 at 17:32

To add another datapoint: I also just put my MS 4000 keyboard upside down on the top rack of the dishwasher. Loose detergent was not available, so I used a few drops of dish soap. I let it sit standing on end over the weekend. The dishwasher used some amount of heat that was not selectable, that caused the already worn palmrest to wrinkle up a bit more than before. The unworn parts are unaffected. Otherwise the keyboard is clean and works fine.
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AdamApr 20 at 17:43

Unplug it from the computer. While this might seem obvious, some people might go commando and use the thing while in the process of cleaning it. You've been warned. ;-)

Remove (no exaggeration) 21 screws from the underside.

Place right side up and wiggle off the faux-leather wrist rests.

Remove a screw from under each of the newly-removed wrist rests.

Find a small flathead screwdriver (or some other flat prying object), slide under the front edge of the space bar and gently give it a twist. The spacebar should pop right out. Set it aside.

Remove two silver screws and then remove the top cover. Note that this will require some wiggling becase there are a few plastic catches sort-of holding it in place, such as in front below the F-Lock light.

If your keyboard is anything like mine was, you'll need to be able to clean under what's left, so remove 4 more screws under where the Back and Forward buttons normally are along with the metal bar they hold down.

Remove the silicone overlays.

When placing the space bar back, remember to start with metal spring inside the spacebar.

Putting an electronic keyboard, especially this one, through a dishwasher is not a good idea, unless you want to sell more keyboards.
The inside of the keyboard is made up of three plastic layers sandwiched together. The top and bottom layers have metal wires laid out like a printed circuit board. The middle layer is an insulator, but with holes that line up with each of the keys on the keyboard. Metal traces on the top and bottom of each hole are separated by air in the thickness of the middle layer of plastic.
When a key is not pressed, these metal traces do not touch one another. When a key is pressed, the top layer is pressed down into the hole until the metal trace at the top touches the metal trace at the bottom and completes the circuit. When you let up on the key, the plastic returns to its original position with the metal traces not touching.

Now, what happens when you introduce water? The top and bottom layers of plastic do not have any exposed holes near these switches, so water can't enter there. However, the Achilles heal is the edge of the plastic and the alignment holes that go through all 3 layers. When a liquid hits an edge or one of these through-holes, the layers of plastic act like a capillary, and draw the liquid between the layers. Everything is still okay...until the liquid finds its way to one of the switch contacts. The liquid can short out a switch contact and it will act as if the key is permanently pressed. Other liquids, for example, the milk that my kids spilled on the keyboard, will wick into the plastic, turn to cheese, and could act as an insulator or a conductor.

I tried taking the keyboard apart, peeling apart the 3 layers, which are not fastened to each other, cleaning, drying, and re-assembling. It still didn't work, so my kids are splitting the cost of a new keyboard.

For very dirty conventional keyboards, i'd recommend a wipe with a damp cloth the get the surface dirt off, pop off the keytops (photographing it first if you can!), and putting it a delicates (steal one from the missus!) bag before putting JUST the keys in the washing machine for a quick, cold water cycle.

For between keys or places you can't scrub, or general dust removal, especially on non removable keytops . i tend to use something called cyberclean to clean between keyboards. Ars technica's review wasn't very positive, but the stuff works, just smush it on your keyboard and the crud stucks to it - a 9 dollar jar of the stuff lasts for 3-6 months for general keyboard cleaning, so its pretty worth it.